Vicente Saldivar
| Vicente Saldívar | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Vicente Samuel Saldívar García |
| Nickname(s) | Zurdo de Oro |
| Rated at |
Lightweight Super Featherweight Featherweight |
| Height | 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) |
| Reach | 1.70 m (67 in) |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Born |
5 March 1943 Mexico City, Mexico |
| Died | 18 July 1985 (aged 42) |
| Stance | Southpaw (though he was born right handed and started in an orthodox stance) at 2:06 of this video you will hear the commentator say it in Spanish |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 40 |
| Wins | 37 |
| Wins by KO | 26 |
| Losses | 3 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
Vicente Samuel Saldívar García (May 3, 1943 in Mexico City – July 18, 1985) was a Mexican boxer in the Featherweight division and was a part of the 1960 Mexican Olympic team. He was a former WBC and a two-time WBA Featherweight Champion. Saldivar has frequently been ranked amongst the greatest in the history of that division by many noted boxing historians and critics. Vicente fought in front of the fourth largest crowd ever, 90,000 in Estadio Azteca, and has also regularly been cited as one of the finest left-handed fighters of all time.
Saldívar was born in one of the many poor quarters of Mexico City and is one of seven children. He used to get in fights on the streets and in school, so his father decided to channel the misguided energy into boxing. Like many other Mexicans his father was a big boxing fan, so it was a logical move. Vicente was taught by Jose Moreno, a veteran trainer of a nearby Mexico City boxing gym.
As a southpaw, Vicente Saldívar was a dynamic fighter in the ring. He could box or brawl, and often softened opponents with a brutal body attack. Among his greatest assets was his stamina; he scored seven knockouts after the 7th round. Saldívar had an unusually slow heart and pulse rate, which he claimed was the secret of the phenomenal pace he was able to maintain in the ring.
Saldívar had a successful amateur career, crowned with a Mexican Golden Gloves title at bantamweight. At seventeen years old, he surprised most by making the 1960 Mexican Olympic team, but lost a very disputed decision to Ernst Chervet of Switzerland in Rome. Having defeated the best Mexican amateurs, Saldívar turned pro in 1961 at the age of 17.
Saldívar turned pro in 1961 and won the Mexican featherweight title with a second-round knockout of Juan Ramírez on February 8, 1964. His first major victory came on June 1 of that same year when he defeated future lightweight champion and hall of fame member Ismael Laguna. Before challenging for a world title, he accumulated a record of 25-1, with his sole loss coming via a contested disqualification, which he later avenged by knock out.
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Wikipedia